2018Bachtrack Ltdhttps://bachtrack.com/themes/bachtrack2013/mastheadlogo.png2018-01-18UTC16:32:03+00:002018-01-18Playing of fearsome technique with fearless regard to the music's demands made for an impressive recital. Enterprising programme from Marc-André Hamelin at Turner Simsen_GBtruehttps://bachtrack.com/review-hamelin-feinberg-turner-sims-southampton-january-2018Bachtrack Ltdhttps://bachtrack.com/themes/bachtrack2013/mastheadlogo.pngDavid Truslovehttps://bachtrack.com/22/270/list-published/15755https://bachtrack.com/22/270/list-published/15755https://bachtrack.com/files/61028-david-truslove.jpgDavid Truslove is a choral specialist with extensive singing and conducting experience drawn from 19 years as a lay clerk at Winchester Cathedral and many years as a choral conductor. His portfolio work now includes part-time teaching, church organ playing and writing programme notes. He has music degrees from Cardiff and Southampton universities.https://bachtrack.com/files/74670-marc-andre-hamelin-c-sim-canetty-clarke-2016-13.jpg510340Marc-André HamelinSim Canetty-Clarke2018-Jan-16, University of Southampton: Turner Sims: Marc-André Hamelinhttps://bachtrack.com/concert-listing/university-of-southampton-turner-sims/marc-andre-hamelin/16-january-2018/20-002018-01-162018-01-16University of Southampton: Turner SimsSouthamptonSouth-EastUnited KingdomSO17 1BJ.50.937013-1.3984284

Nicholas McGegan led The Cleveland Orchestra in spirited performances of a Mozart symphony and concerto, the latter with Marc-André Hamelin, and the program was rounded off with suites of music by Rameau and Gluck.

2017Bachtrack Ltdhttps://bachtrack.com/themes/bachtrack2013/mastheadlogo.png2017-11-21UTC12:36:26+00:002017-11-21Nicholas McGegan led The Cleveland Orchestra in spirited performances of a Mozart symphony and concerto, the latter with Marc-André Hamelin, and the program was rounded off with suites of music by Rameau and Gluck.Sparkling Mozart from Hamelin, McGegan and The Cleveland Orchestraen_GBtruehttps://bachtrack.com/review-mozart-mcgegan-hamelin-cleveland-orchestra-november-2017Bachtrack Ltdhttps://bachtrack.com/themes/bachtrack2013/mastheadlogo.pngSam Jacobsonhttps://bachtrack.com/22/270/list-published/18283https://bachtrack.com/22/270/list-published/18283https://bachtrack.com/files/26915-sam_jacobson.jpgSam Jacobson is based in Chicago. He holds a master's degree in music history and theory from the University of Chicago and regularly attends the Chicago Symphony and other cultural events around the city.https://bachtrack.com/files/71597-marc-andre-hamelin-c-sim-canetty-clarke-2016-13.jpg510340Marc-André HamelinSim Canetty-Clarke2017-Nov-17, Severance Hall: Hamelin plays Mozarthttps://bachtrack.com/concert-listing/severance-hall/hamelin-plays-mozart/17-november-2017/11-002017-11-172017-11-18Severance HallClevelandOhioUnited States1100111001 Euclid Ave, Cleveland, OH 44106, United States41.5063477-81.60933610000001https://www.clevelandorchestra.com/1718-concerts-pdps/1718---tco-classical-series-concerts/week-06/?utm_medium=display&utm_source=bachtrack.com&performanceNumber=15576https://bachtrack.com/files/35813-cleve.png4

2017Bachtrack Ltdhttps://bachtrack.com/themes/bachtrack2013/mastheadlogo.png2017-03-31UTC15:16:59+00:002017-03-31A top heavy programme marred Leif Ove Andsnes and Marc-André Hamelin's two piano recital at Wigmore Hall, though it had its moments of high inspiration. The Rite of Spring a highlight from Leif Ove Andsnes and Marc-André Hamelin at Wigmore Hallen_GBtruehttps://bachtrack.com/review-andsnes-hamelin-wigmore-hall-march-2017Bachtrack Ltdhttps://bachtrack.com/themes/bachtrack2013/mastheadlogo.pngChris Garlickhttps://bachtrack.com/22/270/list-published/1504https://bachtrack.com/22/270/list-published/1504https://bachtrack.com/files/150-chris_garlick.jpgChris Garlick is the co-founder of Signal Gallery in Hoxton. His first degree was in music, training as a classical composer. Chris has written about art frequently in Art of England magazine, Artist and Illustrator for online blogs.https://bachtrack.com/files/57058-marc-andre-hamelin-c-sim-canetty-clarke-2016-30-resized.jpg510340Marc-André HamelinSim Canetty-Clarke2017-Mar-30, Wigmore Hall: Leif Ove Andsnes; Marc-André Hamelinhttps://bachtrack.com/concert-listing/wigmore-hall/leif-ove-andsnes-marc-andre-hamelin/30-march-2017/19-302017-03-302017-03-30Wigmore HallLondonGreater LondonUnited KingdomW1U 2BP36 Wigmore Street51.5165679060013-0.148358345031738https://wigmore-hall.org.uk/whats-on/leif-ove-andsnes-marc-andre-hamelin-201703301930?utm_medium=display&utm_source=bachtrack.comhttps://bachtrack.com/files/64407-wigmore-hall-logo.jpg3

One of music’s first “rock stars”, Franz Liszt created the piano recital: performing without a score, turning the piano sideways – so audiences could admire his profile – striding on and off the platform between numbers.

2016Bachtrack Ltdhttps://bachtrack.com/themes/bachtrack2013/mastheadlogo.png2016-06-20UTC07:55:18+00:002016-06-20Lisztian tempests: Marc-André Hamelin at Wigmore Hallen_GBtruehttps://bachtrack.com/review-liszt-lyapunov-hamelin-wigmore-hall-june-2016Bachtrack Ltdhttps://bachtrack.com/themes/bachtrack2013/mastheadlogo.pngMark Pullingerhttps://bachtrack.com/22/270/list-published/15668https://bachtrack.com/22/270/list-published/15668https://bachtrack.com/files/218-1097_4423_markpullinger.jpgMark is one of Bachtrack’s editors and Chair of the Music Section of The Critics' Circle. An experienced opera critic, with a passion for Verdi, he can often be found propping up a standing place at the ROH. He also reviews concerts and dance, with a particular love for Russian and French repertoire. Mark contributes to Gramophone and Opera magazines and blogs at Beckmesser's Quill. https://bachtrack.com/files/41219-marc-andre-hamelin-sim-canetty-clarke1-resized.jpg510340Marc-André HamelinSim Canetty-Clarke2016-Jun-19, Wigmore Hall: Marc-André Hamelinhttps://bachtrack.com/listing-liszt-lyapunov-hamelin-wigmore-hall-june-20162016-06-192016-06-19Wigmore HallLondonGreater LondonUnited KingdomW1U 2BP36 Wigmore Street51.5165679060013-0.148358345031738https://wigmore-hall.org.uk/whats-on/liszt-feinberg-and-liapunov-201606191930?utm_medium=display&utm_source=bachtrack.comhttps://bachtrack.com/files/64407-wigmore-hall-logo.jpg3

2016Bachtrack Ltdhttps://bachtrack.com/themes/bachtrack2013/mastheadlogo.png2016-03-10UTC14:45:59+00:002016-03-10Vladimir Jurowski and the London Philharmonic paired two large-scale Romantic works from the early years of the 20th centuryEmotional depths: Hamelin, Jurowski and the LPO in Rachmaninov and Zemlinskyen_GBtruehttps://bachtrack.com/review-lpo-hamelin-jurowski-rachmaninov-zemlinsky-march-2016Bachtrack Ltdhttps://bachtrack.com/themes/bachtrack2013/mastheadlogo.pngMatthew Ryehttps://bachtrack.com/22/270/list-published/19100https://bachtrack.com/22/270/list-published/19100https://bachtrack.com/files/24809-matthew_rye.jpgMatthew read music at Oxford and has worked in music journalism for 30 years as a writer, critic and editor. He has written numerous programme and CD booklet notes, spent 13 years as a Daily Telegraph critic, worked at BBC Music Magazine and was reviews editor of The Strad, for which he continues to write. He also writes for The Wagner Journal and Opera Now and blogs at ferneklang.blogspot.co.uk. He was general editor of 1001 Classical Recordings You Must Hear Before You Die (Cassell Illustrated, 2007) and is the author of a new series of eBooks, Masterpieces of Music (Erudition).https://bachtrack.com/files/36162-vladimir_jurowski_matthias_creutziger_resized.jpg510339Vladimir JurowskiMatthias Creutziger2016-Mar-09, Royal Festival Hall: London Philharmonic Orchestra: Jurowski conducts Rachmaninoff and Zemlinskyhttps://bachtrack.com/concert-listing/royal-festival-hall/london-philharmonic-orchestra-jurowski-conducts-rachmaninoff-and-zemlinsky/09-march-2016/19-302016-03-092016-03-09Southbank Centre: Royal Festival HallLondonGreater LondonUnited KingdomSE1 8XXBelvedere Road51.505687-0.11683700000003228http://www.southbankcentre.co.uk/whatson/lpo-090316-89112?utm_medium=display&utm_source=bachtrack.comhttps://bachtrack.com/files/39528-southbank-centre-2016-17-season-image-240-x-240.jpg4

Bartók's Duke Bluebeard’s Castle makes for an enthralling evening, both in its depth of psychology, its amazing score and in the RPO’s colour filled performance, with stand-ins Sir Willard White and Ildikó Komlósi in fine voice.

2015Bachtrack Ltdhttps://bachtrack.com/themes/bachtrack2013/mastheadlogo.png2015-01-28UTC09:55:57+00:002015-01-28Bartók's Duke Bluebeard’s Castle makes for an enthralling evening, both in its depth of psychology, its amazing score and in the RPO’s colour filled performance, with stand-ins Sir Willard White and Ildikó Komlósi in fine voice.Far more than a fairy tale: Bartók's Duke Bluebeard's Castle at the Royal Festival Hallen_GBtruehttps://bachtrack.com/review-bluebeard-willard-white-komlosi-dutoit-january-2015Bachtrack Ltdhttps://bachtrack.com/themes/bachtrack2013/mastheadlogo.pngDavid Karlinhttps://bachtrack.com/22/270/list-published/3https://bachtrack.com/22/270/list-published/3https://bachtrack.com/files/40449-david-karlin.jpgDavid is a co-founder of Bachtrack. He is a musical omnivore interested in almost all types of music, but with a particular love of Italian opera. You can contact him from this link.https://bachtrack.com/files/7984-willard_white_intermusica.jpg300402Sir Willard WhiteIntermusica2015-Jan-27, Royal Festival Hall: Charles Dutoit conducts Duke Bluebeard's Castlehttps://bachtrack.com/concert-listing/royal-festival-hall/charles-dutoit-conducts-duke-bluebeards-castle/27-january-2015/19-302015-01-272015-01-27Southbank Centre: Royal Festival HallLondonGreater LondonUnited KingdomSE1 8XXBelvedere Road51.505687-0.11683700000003228http://www.rpo.co.uk/event.php?utm_medium=display&utm_source=bachtrack.com&pid=1598https://bachtrack.com/files/16165-charles_dutoit_mar_13__c__larry_ho_use.jpg4

A substantial musical menu of works by Wagner, Liszt and Berlioz, the poster boys of 19th century Romanticism, along with a world première, presented by l'Orchestre symphonique de Montréal, Marc-André Hamelin and Kent Nagano.

I have commented before about Marc-André Hamelin’s ability to tackle anything the piano repertoire can throw at him: the craggy, disparate edifice of Charles Ives’ Concord Sonata, Stockhausen’s Klavierstück IX, Villa-Lobos’ savage Rudepoema, the mannered classicism of Haydn, and the sweeping romanticism of Liszt.

Concerts by Canadian pianist Marc-André Hamelin are always challenging and exciting: a fearless approach to repertoire and unusual programme juxtapositions, combined with insightful musicianship, all underpinned by formidable technique create some of the most compelling musical experiences, and Hamelin’s latest Wigmore Hall offering was no exception.Opening with Charles Ives’ Piano Sonata no.

2013Bachtrack Ltdhttps://bachtrack.com/themes/bachtrack2013/mastheadlogo.png2013-11-07UTC16:44:49+00:002013-05-22Marc-Andre Hamelin recital at Symphony Center in ChicagoHamelin, the technician, at Chicago Symphony Centeren_GBtruehttps://bachtrack.com/review-chicago-symphony-center-marc-andre-hamelinBachtrack Ltdhttps://bachtrack.com/themes/bachtrack2013/mastheadlogo.pngDan Wanghttps://bachtrack.com/22/270/list-published/2135https://bachtrack.com/22/270/list-published/2135https://bachtrack.com/files/27231-dan_wang.jpgDan Wang is a graduate student in music history and theory at the University of Chicago.https://bachtrack.com/files/2657-hamelin_simcanettyclarke1.jpg400400Marc-André HamelinSim Canetty-Clarke2013-May-19, Chicago Symphony Center: Marc-André Hamelinhttps://bachtrack.com/listing-chicago-symphony-center-marc-andre-hamelin2013-05-192013-05-19Chicago Symphony CenterChicagoIllinoisUnited StatesIL 6060441.878904-87.6244023

The virtuoso pianist Marc-André Hamelin played a program of works by Bach, Fauré, Ravel and Rachmaninov, bracketed by his own Variations on a theme by Paganini. Last March in Toronto, when Hamelin snuck this piece into the program as an encore, I wrote that it was “ten minutes of the most fun you’ll ever have crowding around a piano at the end of party.” Now that the Variations are in the program, and Hyperion has recently issued Hamelin’s 12 Études in all the minor keys, we might as well begin identifying Hamelin as a “pianist-composer” in the same league as Rachmaninov.

Each time I hear the Takács Quartet in concert a new excellence comes through: this time it is their gentleness. Schubert’s String Quartet in A minor, “Rosamunde” is allowed to unfold gently, as the petals of a rose open themselves.

Canadian pianist (and sometime composer) Marc-André Hamelin can play anything. Or so it would appear from his recital at Wigmore Hall last night, his first concert in London following his dazzling all-Liszt Prom last Summer.

A "riot of orchestral colour" was promised, but little of it was allowed to flourish.

Elgar's Cockaigne Overture, written during the winter of 1900-01, is a portrait of a busy London, conjuring the hustle and bustle of everyday, metropolitan life. The orchestration, as is typical of Elgar, is often very detailed, the principal threads of the texture being added to momentarily here and there, as a flute highlights this and a tuba underscores that. Jac van Steen, the principal guest conductor of the BBC National Orchestra of Wales, exerted tight control over the score, but often at the expense of integration. As a result, the sound was unequal rather than homogeneous, which was further upset by moments of poor orchestral balance, the brass at times overwhelming their colleagues. Yet this was spirited playing that did much to realise the charm of Elgar's score.

In a setting Liszt himself would have approved of – the grand hall, the plush red velvet swags and tails, the full nine feet of gleaming Steinway stretched across a stage bathed in a curious blue light, the eager Prommers craning in expectation – Canadian pianist Marc-André Hamelin celebrated the composer’s 200th birthday in a recital of coruscating virtuosity and extreme pianism.

The central Austro-German repertoire in this excellently conceived programme was flanked by two Hungarian works from the pen of archivist, educator and composer, Zoltán Kodály. A seamless suite of five deftly orchestrated, and increasingly animated movements, Dances of Galánta (1933) draws on memories of Kodály's happy childhood in the titular market town.

Leif Ove Andsnes founded the Risør Festival only nine years ago, but it's already an important part of the European calendar. Risør is unique because it's a musicians' festival. Everyone gets together in this small Norwegian town, no matter how famous they are. This atmosphere's great for chamber music, so the Wigmore Hall is an ideal second home for Risør in London.